Sept. 19–Erie City Council — you're next.
Both UPMC Hamot's $111 million, seven-story patient tower and an eight-story, $15 million Hampton Inn & Suites received the Erie Planning Commission's blessing at a Tuesday afternoon meeting at Erie City Hall.
The two projects, which collectively are part of more than $250 million worth of planned development along Erie's bayfront, are now subject to public hearings before Erie City Council, which must approve all building projects in the city's waterfront zone.
"Both of these projects represent significant investments in Erie's future," said Planning Commission member Rich Speicher. "Everyone knows the bayfront is one of the most unique things Erie possesses, and this continues the kind of growth that's so important."
The two projects were OK'd by the Erie Design Review Committee on Sept. 6. The Design Review Committee and city Planning Commission, under city zoning rules, must review projects in the city's Waterfront Commercial District and make recommendations to Erie City Council.
City Zoning Officer Matthew Puz said City Council's public hearings on the project could take place as early as Nov. 1.
UPMC Hamot's patient tower will be located at 104 E. Second St., where Hamot's Professional Building now stands.
Hospital officials have said the new tower will include 64 intensive care unit beds; an expansion of the hospital's imaging department; upgrades to the central plant and shell space for future needs. Hamot's 42 ICU beds will be converted into a post-anesthesia care unit and procedural rooms.
The project will be built and the construction work is being paid for through the UPMC Fund. The professional building will be razed and construction on the tower should begin in early 2018, UPMC Hamot officials have said.
The 95-room Hampton Inn is the first phase of a $150 million bayfront development planned by Erie-based Scott Enterprises called Harbor Place.
The development is expected to also include restaurants and commercial and residential space.
It would be built on a 12-acre property owned by Scott Enterprises and located on the northeast corner of State Street and the Bayfront Parkway, near the east basin of Dobbins Landing.
The hotel will feature a fitness center, indoor pool and an eighth-story rooftop lounge with views of Presque Isle Bay.
There will be new sidewalks, green space and a park with ample public access, as well as new lighting and other amenities along nearby Front Street.
Construction could start in April.
Harbor Place was first announced in 2013. Part of the project is being paid for with assistance from a $5 million grant from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
The project in July 2014 already received a zoning variance regarding the height of buildings planned as part of Harbor Place, including the hotel, which will be 94 feet high. Scott Enterprises requested that a portion of the development exceed bayfront height restrictions.
Zoning rules along the bayfront limit the height of commercial structures or hotels to 50 feet, and multifamily residential units to 100 feet.
Kevin Flowers can be reached at 870-1693 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNflowers.
